We finally found out which city wins: Houston or Miami

Need to know if Houston or Miami is better? Well, I’ve seen multiple reasons to love Houston, after all, I was born and raised here, but let’s see what Miami has in store for us too!

If you want to live in a city without splurging too much, Houston is for you. However, if you prefer sandy beaches with consistent warm weather throughout the year then pack your bags and head to Miami.

Wondering how we had this conclusion? Here’s a comprehensive comparison of these two cities in terms of cost of living, diversity and demographics, career opportunities, lifestyle, and more!

Cost of Living in Houston vs. Miami

The cost of living in Miami is higher than in Houston. The average monthly living cost in Miami is approximately $8,409.3, while in Houston, it’s around $6,000.

This means that Houston’s monthly living cost is 28.6% cheaper than Miami’s, which is particularly evident in spending comparisons for rental, average monthly bills or utilities, and tuition fees.

Check out the table below to check how we calculate this. We got the data here to see what spending looks like when we choose to live in Houston and Miami.

You’ll notice that, when it comes to expenses, Houston is significantly more affordable than Miami in several key areas.

When it comes to housing, an individual can rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center that costs around $1,586.36 in Houston, while the same space in Miami can already balloon to $2,799.39. 

It’s also noticeable that rental units in the downtown area follow the same trend, with Houston at $1,201.17 compared to Miami’s $2,137.37.

Meanwhile, utility bills are slightly higher in Houston, while mobile and internet plans are comparable.

For childcare costs, Houston’s private school costs are higher compared to Miami. However, the international primary schools are quite close to both cities.

Evidently, Houston scores a notch higher than Miami in terms of having a budget-friendly lifestyle, especially in transportation and housing, making it the more affordable option between the two cities.

Real Estate Prices in Houston vs Miami

Miami has higher real estate prices compared to Houston. Based on the reports from Numbeo.com, the average price per square meter for an apartment in the city center is about $125.2% higher in Miami compared to Houston.

Meanwhile, in downtown areas, Miami’s average price per square meter is 96.7% higher than in Houston.

The table below shows the average price per square meter in Houston and Miami. As you can see, Houston’s real estate market offers significantly lower figures for those who wish to buy apartments located in the city center and in the downtown area.

Diversity and Demographics in Houston vs. Miami

In terms of land area and population, Houston is significantly larger than Miami. While both Houston and Miami have similar gender distributions, Houston’s population is a bit younger compared to Miami.

Meanwhile, life expectancy in Houston is also higher than in Miami. In terms of racial diversity, Houston has a more balanced demographic mix compared to Miami.

It’s worth noting that in terms of land size, Houston is significantly larger than Miami. Hence, the population of Houston is bigger than that of Miami too.

You’ll also notice that the cities’ populations don’t show much difference in terms of age. However, we can break it down further by checking the demographic diversity through the city’s populations’ racial composition.

Here’s a table from Best Places:

Career Opportunities in Houston vs. Miami

A data gathered from Best Places shows that Miami has a stronger future job growth at 42.7% compared to Houston’s 30.9%.

Though both cities are both declining, Houston still performed better with a -5.6% decline versus Miami’s -11.1% drop.

Despite Miami’s stronger projections, Houston still offers its residents a higher average monthly net salary where workers earn 12% more than those living in Miami.

Here’s a table from Best Places showing the job market in Houston and Miami.

The data shows that Miami has 0.3% more unemployment than Houston. Miami’s job growth has also increased by 17.9% in the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, in terms of average monthly net salaries, Houston comes slightly higher than Miami’s average salary. Therefore, Houston residents take 12% more than those living in Miami.

Moreover, when we compare Houston’s lower cost of living and housing expenses, this higher salary can equate to a better quality of life and purchasing power for residents.

Crime and Safety in Houston vs. Miami

The data shows from City Data shows that Houston has higher criminal violations across all categories compared to Miami from 2015 to 2019. 

The trend also continues every year, though both cities still see a decline in robbery cases.

While both cities show fluctuations in crime rates from 2015 to 2019, Miami still has lesser crimes than Houston even if both cities are considered major metropolitan areas. 

Moreover, the differences are most evident in crimes like robberies, assaults, and murders.

Overall, residents and people visiting Miami may experience a much safer environment than in Houston, especially when it comes to violent crimes.

Given the larger area and population of Houston, we’re not surprised to see higher crime rates in all categories mentioned in the data below gathered from City Data.

Legend: H for Houston | M for Miami 

Lifestyle in Houston vs. Miami

Houston is an ideal place to live if you prefer a lower cost of living, extensive healthcare systems, and diverse cultural experiences. 

Meanwhile, for those who love consistent warm weather, sandy shores, and a whole lot of outdoor activities, then Miami is your best bet.

Let’s look at the various lifestyles that both Houston and Miami offer based on multiple factors such as the weather, healthcare, and other recreational activities.

Weather in Houston vs. Miami

Influenced by the cities’ geographical locations, both Houston and Miami have distinct climates. Houston offers milder winters but with occasional rains throughout the year. 

Miami, on the other hand, offers more warm temperatures, with a more predictable wet and dry season.

You’ll notice that Houston experiences hot and humid summers, with an average of 204 sunny days in a year. Houston’s summer high is around 33°C.

Meanwhile, Houston winters can go as low as 6°C—but expect no snowfall at all!

Houston also experiences a good amount of rainfall in a year, allowing them to keep lush green spaces. Moreover, the city also experiences tropical storms and hurricanes since the city is closer to the Gulf of Mexico.

On the other hand, Miami is known for its tropical monsoon climate. The temperature during summer can reach 31°C.

Meanwhile, their rainfall averages at 59.3 inches in a year.

Things to Do in Houston vs. Miami

Both Houston and Miami offer various attractions in their respective areas, catering to different interests. 

While Houston is known for its cultural experiences and outdoor activities, Miami is known for its beaches and lively neighborhoods.

In Houston, you can visit the Space Center Houston, great for those who want to learn about outer space and the missions of astronauts.

Houston is also home to various museums such as the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Meanwhile, you can unwind or set up a picnic pot at Hermann Park, great for families with kids in tow. You can also bring your kids to the Houston Zoo or at the McGovern Centennial Gardens.

If you love shopping, you can head to The Galleria and Highland Village where you can see local and luxury boutiques.

Additionally, you can visit the Theatre District if you want to catch theatrical and ballet shows in Houston.

On the other hand, Miami can offer you its sandy shores at South Beach, great for those who want to go tanning, or even people-watching! There’s also an art district near the beach where you can see colorful and historic architecture.

If you’re curious about the city’s past, you can visit Vizcaya Museum and Gardens where you can see Italian Renaissance gardens.

Health in Houston vs. Miami

Houston has the world’s largest medical center with over 100,000 healthcare professionals and a total of 4.8 million visits in a year.

On the other hand, Miami has over 30 hospitals and 30 healthcare workers, with key public hospitals around.

While both cities provide great healthcare facilities, it’s evident that Houston’s system is much larger.

Internationally, Houston has been known as the home of one of the best medical communities in the world. In fact, you can see the world’s largest medical center in Houston—the Texas Medical Center.

This medical center has thirteen teaching hospitals, two medical schools, four colleges of nursing, a dental college, a college of pharmacy, and a college of optometry.

According to data shared by houstontx.gov, over 4.8 million patients visit the center every year. These hospitals employ more than 100,000 healthcare professionals, which is almost 7% of Houston’s workers.

Public health services are easily accessible throughout the city too. This provides residents access to quality health care, regardless of their ability to pay.

Meanwhile, Miami has over 30 hospitals that cover different specializations and specialty care centers. 

Though relatively smaller than Houston’s healthcare professionals, Miami has almost 25,000 healthcare workers with various specializations such as podiatrists, psychologists, registered nurses, physicians, and optometrists, to name a few.

Meanwhile, residents in Miami who are looking for access to public hospital systems can head to Jackson Health and Memorial Healthcare.

Houston vs. Miami: Key Differences Revealed